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Monday, April 23, 2007
Hey-la-day-la my boyfriend's back
  I haven't posted anything in several days; I've been a tad busy wrestling with Raine. Yes, Raine was here for a few days and we had soooo much fun together!
I spent a great deal of time playing 'keep away' with the large branch from my humans' dead tree. At first Raine wasn't impressed with my branch but I was relentless and eventually he couldn't resist my feminine wilds anymore and he gave chase.
We ran and wrested with that branch every day. He had so much fun he even gave me a big hug! Naturally, being the loving individual that I am, I returned his affections.
When together we play hard and we nap hard. Really, I'm serious about that. You just try to get us up. I know my human has tried to get us up from a nap a few times, but without treats she may as well be talking to the wall.
After napping for a bit we'd resume our play time. We even helped a little around the yard! We dug a really big hole and pulled some weeds.
I don't want you all to think we just act like wild dogs when we are together. We have our quiet and tender moments as well, normally not when anyone is looking though. We both have images to maintain. We're both working dogs after all and must maintain an air of professionalism and strength.
Oh and if you were wondering about my Human. She wasn't around much to bother us, other than to take a few photos. This is actually quite normal when Raine comes to visit. My human likes to catch up on her work and while Raine is here I'm too busy with him to be a pest. *Huff* Me a pest? Ya right..
© Working-K9 2007 permalink
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Thursday, April 19, 2007
Wind Storm!
 A short yet strong wind storm blew through about a week ago now. The storm itself wasn't nearly as impressive as the dust storms or the monsoons that will be coming shortly but it wasn't devoid of entertainment either.
The next morning my human ventured out to inspect for any damage to the house and yard and discovered that her tree, already dead from the frost this winter and with a little help from me, was broke in half. The tree that once had 3 branches now only had two and that third branch was in the yard.
Naturally I had gotten up much earlier than my sleepy human to search for damage. Seeing the large branch in the yard I took it upon myself to start cleaning up while my human slept the early morning hours away. At first the branch was too awkward to move so I stripped off all the tiny branches and dead leaves. I was going to bring the branch to my human but I found that dragging it back and forth across the yard to be much more fun than anticipated.
 When my human did finally come out we started the clean up process. I fetched a few of the smaller twigs and sticks for her. She wanted my big branch but at this point I could not part with it and she seemed to find watching me drag it around rather amusing so I was allowed to keep it.
Not wanting my human to feel as if the clean-up effort was without merit I pulled some weeds for her. Ok in all honesty I just wanted to floss the bits of tree bark from between my teeth but that'll be our little secret, ok?
Because I was such a good helper all morning my human even let me lick the crumbs out of the treat pouch before she re-filled it again! I'm such a lucky dog!
© Working-K9 2007 permalink
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Monday, April 16, 2007
To Heel or Not To Heel..
My human and teacher have worked diligently to teach me all sorts of interesting and apparently useful tasks. Most I went along with readily because it seems to make everyone so happy. As you know keeping the humans happy is a never ending job but one we dogs must do. If the humans aren't happy they can be very boring to live with.
With all my talents and skills you'd think something as trivial as heeling wouldn't be such an issue for my human. After all could Lassie push the elevator buttons for you, I think not! Yes this issue of heeling keeps coming up and this is where I put my paw down. All four paws are down in fact. I do not want to heel. I can be just as stubborn as any human.
I just don't see the point of walking at my humans' side. She's slow and waddles a bit when she walks. When she uses the scooter we do get around faster but I still insist I should go first. It's for the best that I go first really, someone needs to make sure there are no dangers lurking around the corner or that some rabid squirrel isn't going to dart down the tree and attack without provocation.
I also see it as my duty to sniff the ground to see who has come before us and if there are any other potential threats in the area. Plus if I happen to find a scrap of food, well we don't want the human to step in it, so I should just eat it real quick – don't ya think?
Granted I used to be much worse about pulling ahead of my human but after way to many hard yanks on the leash I realized I was only hurting myself and my human seemed to be getting a lot stronger in that arm. So now I will walk ahead until I feel the slightest tension on the leash. It's just enough that I know I'm at the end of the leash but won't get yanked back right away.
For a short while this seemed to work, at least for me. As usual however, my human figured out what I was doing and changed tactics. Now if I pull ahead just a little she stops moving. I stop. Then look back at her. Then look forward again, trying to encourage her onward. I get no response; she won't even look at me! Now it's a test of wills. I sit and wait very patiently for her to move. She doesn't move. I wait, she waits. This is intolerable and rather annoying. I could be missing something interesting just ahead but she still refuses to move.
Maybe she's stuck in that spot? I walk back to investigate and once I'm at her side she gives me a treat and moves forward. What a dirty trick.
So I pull ahead again and once more she stops moving. Ok this is proving annoying and I'm pretty sure she is thinking the same thing. I move back to her side and she starts moving once more. Naturally I must then hurry to regain my position in the lead only to feel her stop moving again.
This goes on and on every time we go out and practice in public. I honestly thought that after the first 3 weeks of this I'd win this battle, I was wrong and the battle wages on. I don't know who will win in the end just yet. We are both very stubborn individuals but once this is resolved I will inform you.
© Working-K9 2007 permalink
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Sunday, April 15, 2007
I am a cute dog
 If you don't mind I'd like to take a moment for self glorification and indulgence. You see I'm a very beautiful dog, I know this because I hear it all the time. I'm also told how cute, funny and entertaining I am. Knowing that most of you reading this can't meet me in person I figured it was time I show you just how cute I can be with a few photos that my human was kind enough to take, edit and format for your enjoyment.
I know my human sometimes wishes I wasn't as adorable as I am, so total strangers wouldn't approach and pet me while I'm working but oh well, she's just outta luck. Hee hee.
© Working-K9 2007 permalink
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Thursday, April 12, 2007
Me vs The Computer
My human spends a considerable amount of time staring at the computer screen and playing with strange items she calls a keyboard and mouse. Personally I don't see the appeal. These toys aren't chewable, they don't squeak nor do they taste good. The worst part is while my human is playing on her computer I get no attention at all! Shocking isn't it? I'm cute, playful, fun and energetic, the computer just sits there and I'm left to sit quietly at her feet or wander around the house.
Naturally, when I want attention I want it now! So what to do? Humm.. I'll lay quietly at her feet for awhile, maybe she'll get bored of the computer and play with me. Time passes, nope that didn't work. I'll try moaning and groaning awhile: "Oh I'm so bored, won't someone play with me?" More time passes, and she did look down and talk to me. I'm making progress.
 Maybe if I fidget, wiggle and accidentally kick her chair a few times she'll get up and play with me. Once again I get little more than a glance and a few words in response. What does "you are pathetic" mean anyways?
That computer must have cast some type of spell over my human. I must save her from this nefarious machine.
I dash out of the office and search out a toy. The rope toy will do nicely. It's one of my favorite toys I'm sure my human will enjoy it as much as I do. I return and plop the toy down on her lap, rest my head on her leg and look up at her with the most endearing look of love I can muster. Oops a little drool got out.
Finally a response as she pets my head, grabs the toy and flings it over her shoulder. Yippee, we can play! I dash off and retrieve the toy only to find she's back to typing on the keyboard. I try giving her the toy again with the same result. Ok this means war. I'm the dog and I will be the center of attention if it's the last thing I do.
This time I drop the rope toy on the keyboard; that was a mistake. My human wasn't happy but she's getting up and carrying the toy. I may have won at last. All my hopes are quickly dashed as she puts the toy on a shelf and sits back down at the computer. After pondering on the situation for a few moments I decide to nudge the keyboard with my nose sliding it back under the desk but my human brought that brilliant plan to an end very quickly.
Next I'll lightly nudge her hand from the mouse repeatedly, when she returns to typing I'll nudge her elbow and prevent at least one arm from touching the keyboard. Finally I break the computers evil spell and she turns and pets me. I lay down on the ground as instructed and she rubs my tummy with her feet. Oh yaaaa. Sweet victory at last.
My adulation is cut short when the tummy rub stops and she is once again drawn in to the clutches of the computer. I lay there and stare at her in shock for a moment then decide to resume being a pest. If it worked once, it'll work again. I'm told repeatedly that "I need to work, to make money, to buy you food – I can't play now" and I still have no idea what all that means. Humans sure make a lot of noise but little sense.
Finally after hours of scheming, plotting and effort my human gets up from the computer and grabs my rope toy. She's ready to give me the attention I know I deserve. The only problem is, I'm tired now. That was a lot of work. I let her throw the toy and I retrieve it a few times before putting my toy away and flopping down on the cool kitchen floor for a nap. I don't know about the human but I sure work hard around here.
© Working-K9 2007 permalink
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Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Stupid Pet Tricks.. Fun yet frivolous.
My training schedule for obedience and service was intense to say the least but all in all I enjoyed going out nearly ever day and working. I spent quality time with my human, my teacher and all kinds of doggie friends (mostly handsome males *grin*) in some of the classes.
 Now for some reason, after a month or so, a class would end and I'd "graduate"; whatever that means. Actually I'll tell you what it means. It means I had to wear a silly little hat, pose for photos, and sit quietly as the humans appeared amused at my discomfort. Oh sorry I got off track there a bit.
The classes ended and apparently there were no more for me to take. I guess I was a very good student. I never had to re-take a single class, but this left me with a void in my weekly schedule. A very big and boring void, in which, my human would use the time to sit at the desk and stare at the computer for hours. Why does she do this? What does "I'm working" mean anyways?
Now how was I supposed to entertain myself? I wasn't allowed to chew the furniture, my toys were of little interest to me and it's only me and this human in this house. I ask you, why wouldn't I pester the human relentlessly until she'd play with me? For awhile this worked. After nearly an hour of bringing her toys, pushing the keyboard in, or nudging her arm at just the right moments she'd get up and spend time with me. Of course by then I was pretty tired and after a few tosses of the ball I'd lie down and take a much needed nap before starting the whole process anew.
This is when she enrolled me in something called "Click-A-Trick". Yea! More activity, fun, time with teacher and other dogs; oh and my human tagged along too.
 This class wasn't like the others. In fact I couldn't figure out what was going on. Roll over, wave, play dead, ring a bell and spin in a circle – who comes up with this stuff? Humans, it always comes down to those crazy humans and their never ending search to find new ways to make us dogs look silly.
These tricks were nothing like my service dog tricks, in fact they were so simple I didn't know how to react. Just walk around in a tight circle and get a treat, so bizarre. On the bright side I figured these tricks out very quickly and the yummy treats just kept coming my way. There was one trick that my human taught me all on her own and that was to balance a treat on my nose. This trick is evil. I can't move or drop the treat until she says I can. I beg and plead with my big brown eyes to make the torment end and yet she makes me wait. I tried drooling a river to bring an end to my suffering, she and my teacher thought that was funny. It feels like an eternity is passing by while that savory and delicious treat is perched precariously on my nose. Finally the release word and the treat is all mine! Mine! Mine at last!
Even though this class is also finished I'm finding that my human is continuing to encourage me to learn even more stupid pet tricks. Something called "Stick 'em Up" is next on the list.
© Working-K9 2007 permalink
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Sunday, April 08, 2007
My Pals and I..
Being that I am beautiful, fun, energetic and just an overall excellent dog – I naturally attract friends. I'm not talking about those humans either, though may of them are quite fond of me and as much as I do like them we just don't speak the same language. You know how hard it is to really get to know another species. When was the last time you really sat down and had a long conversation with a Gecko?
 When I want to just relax and be myself, I need to be around other dogs and I sure have met some great ones! Of course I'm partial to the males. Those handsome, studly, strong, virile, sexy.. Oh baby.. Umm ya where was I? Oh yes. The males, I love 'em and I've met many who have become excellent friends and playmates.
First and foremost is Raine. He's also a Service Dog even if he is nearing retirement he's still has a lot of energy. His human and mine are good friends now and he will come to stay with me for several days to a week at a time! We like to wrestle and play in the back yard, especially at night when it's cooler. My human will take both of us for long walks in the morning or sometimes in the evening. Because Raine is also a service dog he gets to wear his vest and we'll both attend my human on short outings to the store.
Next is my other stud, Kevin Miller. What a crazy name, but that's humans for you. He's a very jumpy dog. I swear he has springs on his feet. Kevin Miller and his human will come over and visit for a few hours about once a week. Kevin Miller and I will wrestle around for a bit before the humans will take us for a long walk, usually several miles. Then back home again to rest and more play time before he has to leave.
Then there is Boomer. He's also a service dog in training. He's my biggest friend. He's some type of Mastiff mix but don't let his size fool you, he's a push over. In fact I can jump up, grad his head and drag him down to the ground fairly easily. I'm a tad more energetic than he is so he usually tires out first but after a little rest he's good to go again. We run around at his humans' home because he's just too big for my home. Plus he has a very nice back yard.
Finally there is Jovie. She's my only girlfriend and she's just a puppy. She's also the smallest of my pals so I have to be extra gentle with her. At first I apparently played to rough with her and would get scolded for trying to bat her around like a tennis ball. I didn't see the problem; she was after all no bigger than a tennis ball. However I finally decided that keeping the peace between myself and the humans is preferable to scoldings so I learned to be gentler with Jovie. Now we play and she jumps up and down trying to grab my ears. I roll on my back and she imitates me. I drag her by her leash, then she grabs my leash and I once again drag her around.
There are a few honorable mentions here as well. Zach and Annie are two dogs I see at PetSmart all the time when my human takes me in to shop or practice my skills. I've gotten to know both of these dogs very well and consider them friends even if we don't get to spend all that much time together.
© Working-K9 2007 permalink
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Sunday, April 08, 2007
Holidays are for the Humans
 I'm going to take a short intermission from my life story to point out how indignant these humans can be. Can you believe the things I have to put up with!? Look at me. I look ridiculous, don't I? Yes I think so too. I don't understand why on particular days my human will make me wear something goofy, then take my photo and laugh and giggle about it all day long. To make matters worse, the human will then show these pictures to other humans and everyone will laugh and giggle at my humiliation.
© Working-K9 2007 permalink
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Friday, April 06, 2007
In Training: Working like a dog
I know I'm a golden retriever. By nature and breeding I'm supposed to "retrieve" things, right? I don't think so. It took me a long time to master this one simple skill.
Maybe I just enjoyed being obstinate a little too much. Maybe I'm just a slow learner. Maybe I just wanted to see if I could push the humans to the brink of madness. Maybe it was a little of all the above. I'll never tell. Hee hee.
 For months the humans in my life would tell me to fetch something and I'd run right out and plop down next to the object and smile sweetly at them. Sometimes they'd even try throwing something to entice me to go after it and for a moment I would lose myself in the chase and actually grab the object. However why would I want to hold on to something that I can't eat, and why can't the lazy humans come get it themselves. After pondering on these issues I'd drop the object, plop down and smile sweetly.
You'd think about 4 months of this game the humans would grow tired of it and move on. Apparently not, and I finally relented and retrieved a toy for my human. She was so happy and I got a handful of treats, I admit her reaction caught me a little by surprise. So I did it again to see what would happen and I got the same reaction. Even my teacher was overjoyed by this simple yet silly trick.
Ok so maybe picking something up and giving it to a human isn't such a terrible thing to do. In fact if the treats and loving keep coming like this I'll bring stuff to the human all day long! And so I did. Well I tried. Ok so the idea didn't work out as I had anticipated. Apparently there are rules to this game and I can't just grab everything in reach and give it to the human and expect treats and loving. The human needs to ask for the item first! Why do they make it so complicated?
Over time I also learned to open and close doors, turn lights on an off, push buttons (power doors and elevators), pull socks from the feet, put the laundry in the basket, assist in putting my vest on and removing it, open and close drawers, load and unload from the van, lay down under a table while the humans eat and not grab food at every opportunity. You know those little plastic bags that contain a plastic fork and knife at fast food restaurants; I even learned to tear those open for my human. Her hands don't work well.
Getting accustomed to working out in public was very hard for me. Heck I'm always going to be a puppy at heart and I am so cute I do attract attention. In fact I often hear some kid scream out "Look at the doggie!" within moments of entering a store. Not to mention the kids and adults who will come up and pet me without even asking for permission from my human. Personally I love the attention. I love it so much I totally forget my human is on the other end of the leash and will spend the next several minutes trying to lure other humans in closer with my never-ending cuteness. "Yes come, come to me. Pet me," I enjoy the attention but once I realized out how much it bothered my human I did tone down my socializing a bit.
© Working-K9 2007 permalink
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Thursday, April 05, 2007
Welcome Everyone
Welcome to my Blog and my first posting. A little background information may be helpful here. I was a pound puppy. Thankfully I wasn't stranded in the pound very long – with a face as cute as mine I knew I'd get out quickly.
 I was 10 months old when I came to live with my human (Myra is her name). I was very much a puppy and she had never owned a dog before. Naturally I took full advantage of the situation and as a result I was signed up for Obedience classes at PetSmart within days of coming to this new home.
Ok so maybe I tore up a few beanie babies, and the trash, and part of the couch. Oh and I peed on the floor twice and liked to jump on people a lot, so what? I was a puppy after all, wasn't I supposed to do all those things?
Once I realized just how serious this human was about getting my behavior under control I digressed and slowly stopped all the annoying, yet very fun, behaviors. We quickly worked out that I was not in charge and if I did as I was told I would get lots of yummy treats.
I attended classes three days a week (Petsmart classes and private classes) for months on end, plus I had to practice all my new skills and behaviors each day for an hour or two. My goodness that was a grueling schedule, thank goodness puppies have lots of energy!
As soon as I finished one class, I would start another one. Just as I was about to finish the second level of obedience classes I was signed up for service dog classes. Now I had to start "earning my keep" as I was frequently told. Apparently my human actually needs me to be helpful and as I matured I found that to be very rewarding.
© Working-K9 2007 permalink
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